A 117.8-acre portion of the golf course is zoned to include 45 acres for future aviation uses and 72.8 acres dedicated to business park development. The southernmost 10 acres of the golf course will now permit commercial uses such as restaurant and hotel development. A 46.5-acre parcel that lies between the Feather Sound Community and Airco will serve as a green-area buffer.

In 2000, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave approval to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport to self-operate the Airco Golf Course as an interim use, with the stipulation that the property be rezoned for its highest and best use. The St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport commissioned a market and feasibility study to examine alternative uses for the county-owned Airco golf course. The study was completed on July 1, 2008.

The study recommended that that the golf course be redeveloped with aviation, office, industrial and hotel uses. Approximately 45 acres would be reserved for aviation use and the remaining 82.8 acres would be used for office, industrial and hotel uses. The office and industrial space could provide for nearly one million square feet of space to support high-wage job creation.

On October 28, 2008, the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners received the Market and Feasibility Analysis and Implementation Recommendations Study for the county-owned Airco Golf Course. The County Commission unanimously agreed to explore closing the course and using its acreage for aviation, office, industrial and hotel uses based on study’s findings.

Zoning and Land Use Change

The St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, in partnership with Pinellas County Economic Development, has taken the first steps to implement the recommendations of the study. The necessary changes to the zoning and land use of the Airco Golf Course to permit a future mix of aviation, commercial office and light manufacturing uses on the existing golf course have been approved.

As recommended by the study, a 117.80-acre portion of the golf course is zoned to include 45 acres for future aviation uses and 72.8 acres dedicated to business park development. The southern most 10 acres of the golf course will now permit commercial uses such as hotel development. The county has also received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to designate the 46.5-acre parcel that lies between the Feather Sound Community and Airco as a green area buffer.

This long-term project to redevelop the Airco golf course into a mixed use aviation and commercial business park operation will be dependent on extensive planning, permitting and infrastructure improvements, including transportation related issues. As the process moves forward various conditions, elements and recommendations will likely change and there will be opportunities for public review and input.